Curriculum vitae of
William A. Thompson IV
PO Box 19694
New Orleans, Louisiana 70119
wat4music@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2022 PhD (ABD), Louisiana State University, Experimental Music and Digital Media with a Secondary Focus on Composition. Dissertation, “Creating Musical Scores and Performances Inspired by the Intersection of Human Speech and Music Through Machine Learning”
2011 Master of Music, University of New Orleans, Jazz Studies/Piano Performance
2006 Bachelor of Arts, University of New Orleans, Jazz Studies/Piano Performance
ADDITIONAL STUDIES AND CERTIFICATIONS
2021 Programming for Digital Media, LSU Digital Design & Emergent Media Teacher Certification
2020 Machine Learning for Musicians and Artists Certification, Goldsmiths University of London Online
2019 Sound Design, LSU Digital Design & Emergent Media Teacher Certification
2018 Digital Storytelling, LSU Digital Design & Emergent Media Teacher Certification
2002 United States Army, Non-Commissioned Officer School, Camp Cooke, Louisiana
1999 United States Army, Intelligence School, Fort Huachuca, Arizona
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
2018 - LSU Digital Design & Emergent Media Certification Pathway Instructor
2017 - Tulane University, Music Science and Technology Instructor, Department of Music
2015-2018 University of Southern Mississippi, Jazz Piano Instructor, Department of Music
2009-2019 Lafargue Music School, Piano Instructor
2008-2010 St. Martin’s Episcopal School, Middle school music teacher, Band and Chorus Director
2006-2009 Green Elementary School, Jackson Public Schools, Elementary school music teacher and Choir Director
2005-2006 Holy Child Jesus School, Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Elementary school music teacher and gospel choir director for award-winning Sister Thea Bowman Memorial Choir
COURSES TAUGHT
MUS 2745 Sound Design (LSU/Liberty High School)
Topics covered: Introduction to DAW, MIDI, Synthesizers, Plugins, Processing, Composition, Recording Techniques (DAW used: Presonus Studio One)
APMS 2218 Composition for Electronic Media (Tulane University)
This course examines theoretical and practical aspects of the study of Composition for Electronic Media. The exact contents of this course will be tailored to suit the individual needs and interests of students at the instructor’s discretion. (DAWS used: Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools…)
SCEN 1015 Computers and Musical Creativity (Tulane University)
This course is intended for young composers and students interested in exploring the use of computers in the creation of music. The course introduces an array of tools, techniques, and motivations associated with Contemporary Computer Music Composition. (DAW used: Ableton Live)
CSC 2700 Programing Digital Media (LSU/Liberty High School)
Topics covered: JavaScript for web audio and web graphics, physical computing, serial communication between hardware and the web browser, software development cycle for interactive digital media
LSU STEM Pathways Teacher Certification Course (LSU)
Design and teach six-week Javascript for Digital Media training course at the LSU STEM Pathways Summer Institute to certify high school teachers in the Sound Design course.
MUS 273 Jazz Piano (The University of Southern Mississippi)
Topics covered: chord voicings, melodic improvisation, solo repertoire, piano trio repertoire, reharmonization of standards, ensemble performance, transcriptions.
MUS 473 Advanced Jazz Piano (The University of Southern Mississippi)
Topics covered: advanced chord voicings, melodic improvisation, solo repertoire, piano trio repertoire, reharmonization of standards, ensemble performance, transcriptions.
MUS 692-1 Graduate Special Problems (The University of Southern Mississippi)
Private lessons tailored to suit needs and goals of music graduate students.
MUS 692-1 Improvisation I (The University of Southern Mississippi)
A course in jazz improvisation designed to prepare the student with the theoretical background, aural skills, and improvisational techniques utilized in jazz performance.
MUS 792 Special Problems in Music (The University of Southern Mississippi)
Private lessons tailored to suit needs and goals of music undergraduate students.
MUP 480 Jazz Combo (The University of Southern Mississippi)
A course leading a student ensemble of varying instrumentation for live performance and improvisation.
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT
2001- Professional Musician (Pianist, Organist, Composer, Song Writer)
1999-2005 256th Military Intelligence Company, 256 Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Camp Justice, Iraq, United States Army. Rank: Sergeant. Counter Intelligence Agent.
PUBLICATIONS
Thompson, William, and Jeffery Albert. “Baghdad Music Journal: One soldier’s move toward technology in music.” Leonardo Music Journal, V25 (December 2015)
Thompson, William. “The Soundtrack to War and Peace.” Perfect Sound Forever, V25 (February 2006)
Thompson, William. “Muse from the Front: Baghdad, New Orleans…Crescent Cities.” All About Jazz (August 29, 2005)
Thompson, William. “Muse from the Front: Musician and Soldier: Problematic or Prolific.” All About Jazz (June 3, 2005)
Thompson, William. “Muse from the Front: Composer/Pianist in Iraq: An Introduction.” All About Jazz (May 19, 2005)
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Thompson, William, and Edgar Berdahl. “An Infinitely Sustaining Piano Achieved Through a Soundboard-Mounted Shaker.” Accepted for publication in the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression Proceedings (2021)
Franklin, Austin. Dylan Burchett, and William Thompson. “Composing and Improvising Using Sound Content-Based Descriptive Filtering.” Accepted for publication in the Web Audio Conference Proceedings. Barcelona, Spain (2021)
Sheffield, Eric. Thompson, William. Berdahl, Edgar. “Two Different Paradigms for Network Audio Performance with a Laptop Ensemble.” International Computer Music Conference Proceedings. New York, NY. (2019)
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
2019 “The Color of Pitch, a New Musical Notation.” Red Stick FutureFest, Baton Rouge, La
2018 “Music Together and Introduction to Improvisation” Accademia musicale Giuseppe Verdi, Venice, Italy. with Marcello Benetti (drums) and Jeff Albert (Trombone).
2014 Art Installation. Prospect 3. New Orleans, La. “DD-214”
2012 Invited Lecturer, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, “WAR/PHOTOGRAPHY: Images of Armed Conflict and its Aftermath”
2009 Master Class, The University of New Orleans, The Music of Thelonious Monk. with Alvin Fielder (drums) and Dr London Branch (bass)
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND ASSISTANTSHIPS
2019 Louisiana State University School of MusicTravel Grant
2019 Louisiana State University Center for Computation and Technology Travel Grant
2019 Louisiana State University School of Music Graduate Assistantship
2009 Mississippi Arts Commission, Mini-grant
2008 Mississippi Arts Commission, Artist Fellowship Recipient
2008 Mississippi Artist Roster
2006 University of New Orleans Basin Street Scholarship
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Mississippi Improvisation Alliance (MIA). 2007-2010, Organization founder and organizer.
MUSICAL ACTIVITIES
Select Discography as a Leader
2021 Will Thompson and Chris Alford. Declaration of Resonance
2021 TAG. Deer Heads to Infinity
2020 Betty Shirley with The Red Organ Trio. Betty Shirley with The Red Organ Trio
2018 Trapper Keaper. Trapper Keaper Meets Tim Berne and Aurora Nealand
2016 Trapper Keaper. Trapper Keaper
2011 WATIV. Syntaxis
2009 WATIV. Will Thompson Quartet
2005 WATIV. Baghdad Music Journal
Select Special and Conference Performances
2021 Infastain I. The Really Really New Music Maraton. Louisiana State University
2020 The Danger of Home, for disklavier piano. composition, The Really Really New Music Maraton. Louisiana State University
2020 Veteran Voices. Electric LA-TEX. The University of North Texas
2020 Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana Concert. Baton Rouge, La
2019 The Seasons Don’t Know, for voice and piano. composition performed by Michelle F Stutes and Melanie T Mallard, The Knight Poetry Composer Project, Baton Rouge, La
2019 Telephone. The International Computer Music Conference
2019 Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana Concert. Baton Rouge, La
2019 Telephone. New York City Electronic Music Festival
2018 DD-214. The Really Really New Music Maraton. Louisiana State University
2018 Veteran Voices, DD214 (excerpt). Electric LA-TEX. Tulane University
2018 Piano Preludes for New Beginnings. composition performed by Louis Wendt. The Really Really New Music Maraton. Louisiana State University
2018 In Tongues, composition for live electronics.
2018 Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana Concert. Baton Rouge, La
2018 Delta blues, Rovigo, Italy. Trapper Keaper
2017 Chris Kline and the Blvds. Virgin Islands Tour
2013 New Orleans Film Festival Closing Day Invited Performer, “Prelude” to Day 8 premier screening of “Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker,” Civic Theatre, New Orleans, Louisiana
2006 WATIV Ensemble. Grand Performances Summer Series. Los Angeles, California
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
International Computer Music Association
Music Teachers National Association
BMI
SELECTED MEDIA COVERAGE
NPR, All Things Considered, “U.S. Soldier Composes Aural Landscapes of Iraq.” Produced by Howard Mandel (Author and president of the Jazz Journalists Association), September 22, 2005
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4856428
BBC, Radio 4, “William Thompson IV’s War,” 30 min. feature documentary. December 21, 2006.
https://soundcloud.com/fallingtreeproductions/william-thompson-ivs-war
The Free Jazz Collective, “Trapper Keaper - Meets Tim Berne and Aurora Nealand.”
April 11, 2019
https://www.freejazzblog.org/2019/04/trapper-keaper-meets-tim-berne-and.html
Contemporary Fusion Reviews, “Rapid ignition free improv masterpiece Trapper Keaper – Meets Tim Berne & Aurora Nealand.” February 7, 2019.
https://contemporaryfusionreviews.com/4944-2/
The Vinyl District, “Combat Vet William A Thompson IV’s sound composition debuts as part of Prospect 3+,” (sound installation in Prospect 3+ New Orleans). Fall 2014.
http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/neworleans/2014/10/william-thompson-ivs-sound-composition-debuts-part-prospect-3/
Offbeat Magazine, CD review, “Will Thompson, WATIV.” January 1, 2010.
http://www.offbeat.com/2010/01/01/will-thompson-quartet-wativ-independent/
Vital Weekly (weekly webcast), Number 512, Week 6, CD review. Fall 2006.
http://www.vitalweekly.net/512.html
Signal to Noise: The Journal of Improvised and Experimental Music, “A Soldier’s Story.” Spring 2006 (Issue 41)